Phacoemulsification system utilizing graphical user interfaces for adjusting pulse parameters
A phacoemulsification system with enhanced user utility and tactile operability includes a control unit and a handpiece with a needle and a vibrating unit that is configured to ultrasonically vibrate the needle. The handpiece includes a needle and a vibrating unit for ultrasonically vibrating the needle according to a variable parameter, such as frequency, shape, size, duty cycle, and so on. The control unit is configured to adjust the value of the parameter. A monitor is operably connected to the control unit for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includes an adjustable control element, such as a slider bar, radio buttons, or handles, and an indication element that indicates the value of the parameter, either numerically or graphically. An interface device, such as a touchscreen, a mouse, or a keyboard, is operably connected to the control unit for enabling a user to adjust the control element. The control unit is configured to change the value of the parameter at least in response to adjustments of the control element by the user.
The invention relates to methods and devices for removing a lens from an eye and, more particularly, phacoemulsification systems.
A number of medically recognized techniques have been utilized for removing a lens from an eye. One such technique is phacoemulsification, which includes making a corneal incision in the eye and then inserting a needle of a handpiece into the eye, with the needle being ultrasonically driven or vibrated in order to emulsify the eye lens. Simultaneously with this emulsification, a fluid is utilized for irrigating the eye, and a vacuum is provided for aspirating the emulsified lens and inserted fluids.
Pulses or signals from a control unit controls the vibration of the needle. The pulses are controlled by one or more parameters, such as frequency, size, shape, and so on. It is inconvenient during a phacoemulsification procedure to change the parameters of the pulses being delivered to the needle in real time without the surgeon being distracted during the change.
In view of the foregoing, there remains a need in the art for a phacoemulsification system that has enhanced user utility and tactile operability so that parameters of the pulses can be changed in real time during a procedure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one aspect of the invention, a phacoemulsification system with enhanced user utility and tactile operability includes a control unit and a handpiece with a needle and a vibrating unit that is configured to ultrasonically vibrate the needle. The handpiece includes a needle and a vibrating unit for ultrasonically vibrating the needle according to at least one variable parameter, such as frequency, shape, size, duty cycle, amplitude, and so on. The control unit is configured to adjust the value of the parameter that is varied. In a number of embodiments, multiple parameters may be adjusted.
The system also includes a monitor operably connected to the control unit for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includes an adjustable control element, such as a slider bar, radio buttons, or handles, and an indication element that indicates the value of the parameter, either numerically or graphically. An interface device, such as a touchscreen, a mouse, or a keyboard, is operably connected to the control unit for enabling a user to adjust the control element. The control unit is configured to change the value of the parameter at least in response to adjustments of the control element by the user.
One of the advantages of the invention is that during a phacoemulsification procedure, a surgeon or surgical assistant can view the GUI on the monitor to easily see parameters of the pulse currently being provided to the handpiece. In addition, the surgeon or surgical assistant can easily and tactilely adjust the value of one or more parameters on the same GUI. This greatly increases the utility of the system during a highly refined and sensitive procedure. As mentioned above, in many cases, the values of multiple parameters can be adjusted.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the drawings in more detail, a phacoemulsification system 100 with enhanced user utility and tactile operability is illustrated in
With particular reference to
In operation, the control unit 102 supplies ultrasonic power on to the phacoemulsification handpiece 104. An irrigation fluid source 128 provides irrigation fluid to the handpiece 104. The irrigation fluid and an ultrasonic pulse are applied by the handpiece 104 to a patient's eye E, which are indicated by arrows F and P. Aspiration of the eye E is achieved by means of the pump 112, which is indicated by arrow A. The handpiece 104 may include a switch 130 for enabling a surgeon to select an amplitude of electrical pulses to the handpiece 104 via the computer 110, the power level controller 118, and the ultrasonic power source 114. The operation of the system 100 in general may be in accordance with the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,948, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Turning to the enhanced user utility and operability of the system 100 in more detail, the control unit 102 may include a video display or monitor 132 as shown in
As shown in
In a number of embodiments, the computer 110 may be configured to change the values of the parameters in real time in response to any change made with the control elements 136, with the indication elements 138 also indicating the new values in real time. This enables the user to quickly control and modify the pulses P at the handpiece 104 in response to desired changes during a phacoemulsification procedure. The changes in the parameter values correspondingly result in changes to the pulses P provided by the handpiece 104.
In some of the embodiments as shown in
In addition to changing parameter values, the GUI 134 may also be utilized to change the shape of the pulse P. For example, as shown in
In addition to displaying a GUI 134 for changing parameter values, the monitor 132 may also display a GUI 134 that can be utilized for changing the height of a bottle of irrigation fluid 128 mounted on an IV pole or for changing the pressure by which irrigation fluid is infused into the eye. More specifically, as shown in
With reference to
Those skilled in the art will understand that the preceding exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide the foundation for numerous alternatives and modifications thereto. For example, in addition to the examples provided above, the interface device 140 may also a footswitch 164 as shown in
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a handpiece including a needle and a vibrating unit for ultrasonically vibrating the needle according to a variable parameter;
- a control unit operably coupled to the handpiece for adjusting the parameter;
- a monitor operably connected to the control unit for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI including an adjustable control element and an indication element, the indication element for indicating the value of the parameter; and
- an interface device operably connected to the control unit for enabling a user to adjust the control element;
- the control unit being configured to change the value of the parameter at least in response to adjustments of the control element by the user.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the value of the parameter is changeable in real time.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein interface device is adapted for manual adjustment of the control element by the user.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vibrating unit further comprises a pulse that is controlled by the parameter.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interface device includes a touchscreen operatively integrated with the monitor.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interface device includes a mouse with an associated pointer integrated with the GUI.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interface device includes a footswitch.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interface device includes a remote control.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control element includes a slider bar.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control element includes radio buttons.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control element includes a handle.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the parameter includes a frequency of the pulse.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the parameter includes a size of the pulse.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the parameter includes a shape of the pulse.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the parameter includes an amplitude of the pulse.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control unit is configured to cause the GUI to display the value of the parameter being provided to the handpiece in real time.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vibrating unit of the handpiece vibrates the needle according to a plurality of parameters;
- the GUI including a corresponding plurality of control elements and indicator elements respectively associated with the plurality of parameters;
- the interface device being configured to enable the user to manually adjust each of the control elements independently of each other; and
- the control unit being configured to change the values of the parameters in response to adjustments of the control elements by the user and to provide the control signal to the vibrating unit of the handpiece with the changed values of the parameters in real time.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the GUI further includes an adjustable control element and an indication element associated with a height of a bottle of irrigation fluid mounted on an IV pole;
- the control unit being configured to change the height of the bottle at least in response to adjustments of the control element associated therewith by the user.
19. A method for operating a phacoemulsification system, the method comprising:
- providing a phacoemulsification system including: a handpiece including a needle and a vibrating unit for ultrasonically vibrating the needle according to a variable parameter; a control unit operably coupled to the handpiece for adjusting the parameter; a monitor operably connected to the control unit for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI including an adjustable control element and an indication element, the indication element for indicating the value of the parameter; and an interface device operably connected to the control unit for enabling a user to adjust the control element; the control unit being configured to change the value of the parameter at least in response to adjustments of the control element by the user;
- placing the handpiece in an operative relationship with an eye;
- causing the control unit to provide the control signal to the handpiece; and
- manipulating the control element of the GUI manually to change the value of the parameter.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the interface device includes a touchscreen operatively integrated with the monitor, the manipulating step comprising:
- contacting the touchscreen at the control element with a finger.
21. The method of claim 19 wherein the interface device includes a mouse with an associated pointer integrated with the GUI, the manipulating step comprising:
- positioning the pointer on the control element.
22. The method of claim 19 wherein the control element includes a slider bar, the manipulating step comprising:
- moving the slider bar.
23. The method of claim 19 wherein the control element includes radio buttons, the manipulating step comprising:
- actuating the radio buttons.
24. The method of claim 19 wherein the control element includes a handle, the manipulating step comprising:
- moving the handle.
25. The method of claim 19 wherein the parameter includes a frequency of the pulse, the manipulating step comprising:
- manipulating the control element to change the value of the frequency of the pulse.
26. The method of claim 19 wherein the parameter includes a size of the pulse, the manipulating step comprising:
- manipulating the slider bar to change the size of the pulse.
27. The method of claim 19 wherein the parameter includes pulse shape, the manipulating step comprising:
- manipulating the slider bar to change the shape of the pulse.
28. The method of claim 19 wherein the vibrating unit of the handpiece vibrates the needle according to a plurality of parameters, the GUI includes a corresponding plurality of control elements and indicator elements respectively associated with the plurality of parameters, the interface device is configured to enable the user to manually adjust each of the control elements independently of each other, and the control unit is configured to change the values of the parameters in response to manipulation of the control elements by the user and to provide the control signal to the vibrating unit of the handpiece with the changed values of the parameters in real time, the manipulating step comprising:
- manipulating at least one of the control element of the GUI manually to change the value of a corresponding one of the parameters.
29. A phacoemulsification system including an handpiece with a needle and vibrating unit for ultrasonically vibrating the needle according to a variable parameter, the system comprising:
- a control unit operably coupled to the handpiece for adjusting the parameter;
- a monitor operably connected to the control unit for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI including an adjustable control element and an indication element, the indication element for indicating the value of the parameter; and
- an interface device operably connected to the control unit for enabling a user to adjust the control element;
- the control unit being configured to change the value of the parameter at least in response to adjustments of the control element by the user.
30. The system of claim 29 wherein the interface device includes a touchscreen operatively integrated with the monitor.
31. The system of claim 29 wherein the interface device includes a mouse with an associated pointer integrated with the GUI.
32. The system of claim 29 wherein the control element includes a slider bar.
33. The system of claim 29 wherein the control element includes radio buttons.
34. The system of claim 29 wherein the parameter includes a frequency of the pulse.
35. The system of claim 29 wherein the parameter includes a shape of the pulse.
36. The system of claim 29 wherein the parameter includes an amplitude of the pulse.
37. The system of claim 29 wherein the GUI further includes an adjustable control element and an indication element associated with a height of a bottle of irrigation fluid mounted on an IV pole;
- the control unit being configured to change the height of the bottle at least in response to adjustments of the control element associated therewith by the user.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 5, 2005
Publication Date: Jul 6, 2006
Inventor: Michael Claus (Newport Coast, CA)
Application Number: 11/030,443
International Classification: A61B 17/32 (20060101);